The pause had begun to worry Amethyst more, but then Victoria had spoken. The other woman still seemed a bit dazed, but at least she wasn’t unconscious. Help didn’t seem like it was needed immediately, or at least more than she could give. She’d shuffled the pages she had retrieved into a neater stack as she had listened, though. “Accidents do happen,” she said softly with a nod. “Of course. It’s lucky nothing worse happened.”

Getting to her feet, she offered a hand to her. “You’re welcome. I do understand what that’s like, and I hope you aren’t too late for your meeting,” she replied, holding the stack out for the other woman to take. She did deal with papers most of the day after all, although it was more messages and press releases than anything else. “Did you need any other help?,” she added, just in case things were in fact not as good as they seemed.

Yes, yes accidents did happen, but she was just walking down the stairs. How clumsy could she be. "Yes, very lucky you were here to help too. I'm not sure if I could getup if it was just me." Taking the woman's hand she got up and winced in pain. Yep her ankle was certainly injured. How badly she wasn't sure yet, but she had no time to deal with it right now. Leaning on the wall she rolled it around trying to let the pain ease away. "I'm Victoria by the way, not the best way to introduce myself, but honestly thank you for the help."

She finally set her foot down and reached down for her papers, "No, I think I'll be alright. Though meeting with one of the Quidditch owners is not something I should be late for." Especially this owner. She would hate to keep him waiting. "Always a busy time right before the season starts. So many meetings and papers to sign."

Glancing around she gave the woman a small smile, "No, I think I'm alright. I haven't made you late for anything have I?" She would so hate that if she made someone else late, because she was being a hazard in the work place.

There was obviously more to the statement than had been said, but Amethyst wasn’t about to press the issue. Not when it wasn’t her place. “Well, I’m glad I was here to help, then,” she replied. If only she hadn’t made that wrong turn out of IMC, she might not have been there to help. There might not have been anyone close enough to have helped, and that would have been unfortunate. Especially given the wince as Victoria had gotten to her feet. “Amethyst,” she continued, giving the other woman another concerned look.

Even more information seemed to be coming, not that she particularly needed to hear it to know who the woman was. Working on Level One did have its perks after all. She knew most of the people who worked at the Ministry, whether or not they knew her. “I can’t imagine it would be. Something you’d want to be late for, that is,” she said, nodding slightly.

She hadn’t quite let go of her, either. There was still the uncertainty that everything was truly alright, and she imagined it would be understood if anyone missed her. “Oh, no. Of course you haven’t. I had just been over visiting IMC.” More accurately, she had been visiting Gregory, but she kept that to herself for now. She didn’t know who was aware of their relationship, although at some point she knew it would have to be known. “I’ll explain if anyone questions why I wasn’t back at my post on time.” She wasn’t concerned about that at all.

Now that she was up Victoria could feel her ankle was hurting. "I do owe you for the help. Maybe a coffee sometime. Could be my treat of course." She wouldn't have it any other way. It was the least she could do, but maybe not at that moment since she had a meeting to get to, but soon. "That is a very pretty name." She really thought it was unique and special. She loved that about people's names.

"No, no especially Xavier. He has been a great supporter of anything we do here so I don't like to keep him from his schedule." Plus she did enjoy visiting with him. She had a department meeting as well to get to. So busy during this time of year, she couldn't help but wonder if she was starting to get too old for all of it.

"I'm glad I've not inconvenienced you. I won't keep you any long. Thank you again." She shuffled her papers around to make them look at least a little organized. "I guess I should be going."

She'd missed the lift and would be damned if she stood around waiting for the other one. Too many things to do and a suspect back in lock up that was just dying to see her were enough incentive to see the Auror stomping up the staircase with purpose in each step.

At this point, she wasn't sure she would even call the man a suspect. All roads pointed to him and after that tussle they'd had on the way in, she couldn't wait to crack the rest of the information out of him. Naturally, she hoped he resisted as he had done out in that alley because she still wasn't done knocking her around for the all but wild goose chase he'd sent her on for the last couple months.

Higher and higher she climbed, ignoring the ache in her muscles but resigned to heading to the bathroom once she got to Level Two to clean up as best she could. The other guy looked worse, to be sure, but she'd hardly sit before him and give him the satisfaction of seeing most of his handy work.

Gid was trotting down the staircase hoping to grab some food his mind wandering to what he might grab or if he'd go out into muggle London or not. He'd skipped breakfast and was starving at this point. He heard the steps of someone approaching him as he made his way down. He nearly always took the steps but didn't often find many doing the same.

He finally turned to go down the next flight as he noticed who was coming towards him. A smile flickered until he noticed she was a little....disheveled. "Hello" he greeted as he got closer to her. He was curious but was it even his business? "Everything alright?"

The next flight of stairs alerted her to the fact she would soon be encountering company. Not particularly rushed footsteps, not frantic either so no one escaping anything--as unfortunate as that was. Sometimes it was easy to forget that emergencies weren't the only times people typically crowded the stairs, in fact, if she wasn't usually in so much hurry, she may have opted to take them herself.

Rounding the corner, she finally saw the face connected to the footsteps and found she was uncharacteristically pleased. At some point during the day the Auror had made plans to visit her boss' office and here he was saving her a trip! "Perfectly grand, bossman. Just wrestled a suspect into the holding cells, highlight of my week really. It's the struggle that makes it really rewarding." She said, meaning it to be explanation enough for her current appearance. "Had to check something with security but heading back up for the interrogation now."

But why waste this perfect opportunity? What were the odds she would find him not buried in paperwork like this again?

"Actually, I was hoping to talk to you at some point. You got a minute?"

He was grateful it was just a nice quiet day so far for him at least. It definitely didn't look that way for Alexa though! He grinned a little though at her saying she'd wrestled a prisoner into the holding cell. Hey all the more for her, some excitement was fun every once in awhile. It had been a little too quiet lately, it made him nervous for it to be so quiet. As if a time bomb was about to happen and everything go down or fall apart. Neither one was a very good option to him. "At least he's put in the holding cell now, and not out there still." he said in response "I agree though, the struggle makes it more rewarding." He enjoyed that part of it. Being able to show them who was in charge and being in the field definitely proved that. He nodded at what she said she was heading to do now. "I'll le...."

He had been about to say he'd let her be on with it when she spoke again. "Of course" he glanced around "Here, or would you rather somewhere more private?"

Naturally she expected her boss to agree with her. Gidyun was once an Auror and though he was confined to the office most days, he would have been acquainted with the life of high adrenaline, paranoia and sketchy situations. Once you really got into that, you could see the thrill in the struggle and the satisfaction that came with winning. Gave you this.....rush, y'know? Being the adrenaline junkie that she was, this was the type of thing that Lex fed off of.

But anyway, this was serious business. Here her boss was, open for discussion and willing to discuss it right here if she wished. Seizing the moment was going to have to be a thing.

"Here's fine. It honestly won't take too long." Alexa continued up the stairs, closing the gap until the two appeared on the same level. One did not bargain while in a lower position. It robbed any appearance of confidence and power--both of which she needed to portray right now. Lex straightened her posture, ignoring the way her joints seemed to complain at the action. Hazel eyes locked on his, almost boring into him as if trying to bring across how seriously she would like to be taken.

"I'd like to be placed under consideration for Head Auror." No going around the bush, no small talk about their day or coffee or the weather. "Emily was well aware of this intention from the moment I joined the ranks of the YATIs and our stand in, Elliot Rainey was equally aware of my desire to rise in the ranks of the Aurors. I'd like to think both saw much potential in me as both often trusted me with tasks not typically gifted out to YATIs, such as leading a sting operation and carrying out internal surveillance on Department Heads he deemed to be a security risk while still in training. I trust my track record since then can prove my value." There wasn't the faintest hint of a smile on her face; nothing that might give the false impression she was simply messing around.

"I understand you'll seriously need to take everything into consideration and that it won't only affect me but those around the Auror Division. At the same time, I'm willing to prove my effectiveness if you don't believe my previous work has started to convince you of my true potential." Until this summer, Alexa Cambridge hadn't taken a single vacation, not since she'd joined the force as a trainee. How long ago had it been? 7 years? 8 soon? She could scarcely remember. Similarly, she could scarcely believe it would soon be nearing a decade in the MLE in one capacity or another.

"Naturally, I don't expect anything to be overturned in one night or even a month or half a year depending but I'd like you to know I'm serious about this--it's something I've always been very serious about. I'd like to advance beyond the rank of an Auror. Essentially, I'm asking for more and think I'm in a position deserving of more. If you don't currently believe it, then I'd like the chance to prove it to you, beginning with a full file of all previous cases I've assisted with, among those the Hit Wizards and Chief Inspector allowed me on, and ones I've personally headed or partnered with Bellaire on." The point was, she was seeking opportunity and was willing to do anything to secure it.

There might have been not one, but two broken basilisk eggs in that box and two that had slipped away. While one had went to the lobby where the green plants grew the other slipped through a small crack and now was moving along the stairs to find some food or a warm place to hide.

A basilisk's egg was being smuggled and now it's already hatched. How often this incident happened in his life? Rarely.

As Morgenstern asked anyone from the magical creatures department to handle this and since he and Rose were the ones to receive the patronus, he decided to do this task no matter how slightly dangerous it was. Getting the earthworm and guppies from the environmental department (thank Merlin their office was just next to them!) The 34 year-old quickly went down by using the staircase because using the elevator perhaps wasn't such a good idea if they wanted to be quick and not to mention how packed it was.

"Merlin's beard...." And apparently, Jordan had found the basilisk roaming around the stairs. "Rose, get the box ready." He said to his co-worker. She's following him here, right? If not... Well, looked like he had to deal with this creature by himself.

Smuggled dragon eggs and basilisk eggs were a rare happening, and that now at least two basilisk eggs had hatched and were roaming around the ministry was definitely for lack of better words to describe it an incident. Flaming feathers if this got out to the daily prophet? Rose didn't even want to think about that or Becca's potential anger.

Seeing as she and Jordan had been the only ones present in the creatures work area when Morgenstern's patronus had arrived Rose had decided to help out knowing full well that it could get dangerous. After picking up the steel cages from dragonology she had met up with Jordan who had gotten the food and they headed down the staircase instead of the elevator together.

When Jordan blurted out Merlin's Beard just ahead of her and stopped so quickly on the stairs Rose almost collided into him but managed to stop before she did just that. Straightening up she saw what Jordan saw; the baby snake. Changing her grip on the steel box she said "The box is ready Jordan. How do we catch it?"

This was a weird place for the baby to move around. The stairs caused some issues for the basilisk, but in it's very short life the basilisk figured it out and kept moving downward. That was until it smelled something that seemed like food. Sticking it's head up to sniff the air it looked straight at the human coming towards it. If only it knew that it was too little to do any damage it might have slithered way instead of stand tall, but the basilisk stomach took priority and it slithered closer to the food.

Take a deep breath, Hernandez. He muttered to himself. Not to mention that he had food on his hands made the possibility of him being chased or worse... attack by the creature was higher. "I think Morgenstern wanted us to lure the basilisk with the food." And he watched the juvenile beast came closer to him! Goodness, he didn't think how risky it was having the food on his hand.

Seeing the situation was not really ideal to lure the basilisk with food, Jordan got his wand out from his pocket and silently cast levitation charm. It might be insane and dangerous but.... worth a shot.

Rose was fascinated. It was probably not the right time to feel that way, but the baby basilisk did fascinate her. Jordan was standing in front of her with food in his hands that she hoped smelled appetizing to the baby snake. When the juvenile snake started to slither closer to them Rose kept her cool and considered. "I think the baby is hungry Jordan. Give me some of the food and i'll put some in the box/cage and set it on the floor and then i'll make a food trail that leads to it. Keep it's interest u-....."

Then Jordan had to go and levitate the snake into the air which was either very smart or very stupid. Setting the open steel box down on the floor as slowly and soundlessly as she could, Rose let her eyes trail from the juvenile snake to Jordan.

After mercilessly giving quick instructions to a junior dragonologist, Albert left the poor kid rattled with the newly hatched Romanian Longhorn Dragons. The beasts were relatively harmless for now, considering that he'd left it in an almost perfectly charmed incubator leaving extra room for the dragons to move in. It could search its mother all it wants, but just like a baby, it would soon deplete its energy enough for it to sleep while the young dragonologist go about his work for the day. No big deal...and hopefully, the laboratory would still be intact by the time they all got back with a baby basilisk in tow.

To the trained eye, the trail left by the juvenile basilisk wasn't that hard to follow. Jordan and Rose's voices made it all easier for Albert to track them altogether...and it seemed that they too are somewhat...unsure on what to do. To be fair, it wasn't exactly their division's job to do this clean-up, but it didn't stop Albert from being annoyed once more. They were both adults, supposedly well-versed with creatures, but sadly...right now, they don't look like it.

Albert leaned on the wall, crossing his arms across his chest, wand at the ready. He felt like he was transported back to his Durmstrang days where he taught students about Dark Magical Creatures. If they had been more prepared, he would've concealed a rooster in one of the cages, lure the basilisk in, and let the rooster crow. He must admit that his Durmstrang students would've done so much better with this clean-up task: fast, efficient, clean, and unforgiving; fit for a baby wizard-killer creature.

Becca silently slid up behind where Albert was leaning against the wall and peered around at the employees who were supposedly dealing with the baby basilisk. She'd been busy and trying to prepare for all of the kids coming home for the holidays when she'd heard about the disaster that was going on within the Ministry. Fortunately, Becca had managed to get everything finished before she had run back to the Ministry, so her focus was completely on how the staff managed a situation like this.

Blue eyes followed the movements of the staff and avoided looking at the creature they were dealing with. Emotions were best found in people's eyes or their expressions when they were unaware of being watched and Becca used that to her advantage. It seemed like Albert was doing so too, but from his stance it was obvious that he was ready for anything that may happen... which was good. Now all she had to do was watch and wait, hopefully nothing crazy would happen... at least not until she had her clothes that she didn't mind getting ruined on.

Theophilus had JUST sat down to eat his sandwich when he got word of the dramazzzzzzzz happening that his department were being tasked to deal with. He'd skidded his way around to find where on Earth he needed to be, coming to a stop by physically bumping into both Becca and Albert. "Sorry sorry sorry, I'm here, I'm here!" And here he was. Panting and holding onto the wall. Running was NOT his forte, honestly. Who expected a man to run this far for someone elses mistake?

"Is this a training exercise? Is that why we're watching? Did I stop eating a sandwich for nothing, Albert?" His poor sandwich was still on a table somewhere and someone else had probably thrown it into the bin.

If this was a training exercise, then he was going to INSIST he was kept in the loop.

There was the food the baby was smelling and it cautiously moved a bit closer to the source, but it wasn't going to fully trust these figures around it. Right as it thought better of moving it found itself in the air. Making hissing and other stressed noises the beast wiggled trying to be released and finally falling straight on the shoe of one of the men.

Levitating the beast was... not as easy as he thought.

Jordan was too focused on this mission and he even didn't realize that there people watching (and probably judging) him trying to catch the basilisk. There was a possibility that the spell would not work but he still insisted to try this way. And it did work, the creature was up in the air and he tried to aim it to the box.

.... But unfortunately the basilisk escaped his levitation spell and fell on his shoes. "Bloody hell!" The 34 year-old muttered and tried to avoid the creature. Okay, he needed a plan B. Heh, Morgenstern probably would not be happy about this but he didn't care at all.

Albert had his eyes on Jordan and the basilisk while his brain was busy reminiscing about the good times in Durmstrang. He'd just realised how easy it was to educate students, albeit their rebellious nature, than to re-educate full adults in their field. If the basilisk had been a grown one, they would've all been dead by now. Blue eyes remained on the task at hand, while this time, his ears did a minuscule twitch upon feeling a silent presence. Perhaps, it was Becca...or some other female coworker who was light on her feet.

The next one to arrive did, however, resembled a huge boulder released from the upper floors and down to where they were. Before Albert could even react, Theophilus had bumped into him, making his figure tilt forward, and his right foot in front of his left. The man would've definitely sent his fellow Division Head on fire for accidentally bumping into him, but clearly, it wasn't the right time to do so, on account of the mess they had to clean up. "Consider it as one, Theophilus. It's supposed to be an easy task, however, it seems that we need the whole Department to catch one juvenile basilisk." Albert's cold stare was diverted from the younger Division Head to one of his subordinates: Jordan. And just as he did so, the basilisk escaped his levitation charm, and landed on to the younger employee's shoes.

Albert rolled his eyes in irritation, silently pleading for Merlin's mercy. He had instructed them to get food to lure the basilisk with and trap it in the steel box that Rose brought. Did he really have to spell out the whole procedure to professionals?! Really??? "Your abandoned sandwich would've served its purpose here, Theophilus." Albert continued turning his attention back to the man, then walked towards Rose. "Hernandez, get the bloody food in here and leave a small trail for the basilisk to follow. Once it's inside the box, lock and secure it, Miss Kitridge." The plan was too easy, and yet...

Wiggling off the shoe the baby found itself surrounded by big objects as it explored around the shoes. The smell of food though kept it distracted and not as fearful as it should be towards the humans.

It take him a moment to realize that there were people watching them, including the Morgenstern itself. Merlin, that man didn't seem happy to see Jordan completely abandoned his plan by the luring the beast with food. But hey, at least with his levitation charm it wouldn't be difficult to lure it because now the basilisk had landed on a flat surface.

But first, this basilisk needed to get away from his shoes.

As the juvenile creature wiggled off, he followed the grumpy man's orders. He left some treat on the floor and lead it to the box.

Brilliant, just brilliant!

Morgenstern looked like he would be having steam rising out of his ears any minute now because of the fact that she and Jordan hadn't yet managed to secure the basilisk. He barked out orders like Becca wasn't even there with them. And then Theo joined them jibbering something about leaving his sandwich somewhere.

"Yes, Mr Morgenstern." Rose murmured, only flinching slightly and then moved to do what was asked of her. She put some extra food into the steel box and then kept her wand raised and ready as she waited for the snake to slither unawares into the box that she intended to close. "Jordan, I think you need to give the snake a push in the right direction."

Theophilus just grinned at Albert even though he was truly aware that it annoyed the man more than anyone else. But given that they were now using this as a training exercise, this Division Head definitely took a back seat and watched with his arms folded tighter than normal. Really and truly, why was it taking them so much effort to sort something he could have done in moments? Something that his nephews could do in moments? "And this is who we hired, Becca? Really? I thought one of them was an ex-Professor?" Herding teenagers was harder than a baby basilisk, surely??

"Come ON guys!" Why was this coming across to be so impossible for them? "Time is ticking." And he certainly wouldn't be recommending either of them for any individual cases for a while.

They needed leadership. Not independence.